Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 245 Investigating the Truth
"Why did you insist on going to the Imperial Household Department for no reason?"

Consort Ning spoke with some impatience, putting down her teacup: "The Imperial Household Department is nothing more than a decoration in the inner palace."

Consort Shen bit her lower lip: "When Your Majesty served the Emperor, wasn't it because you were chosen by the emperor?"

Consort Ning froze: "Of course, but that was a long time ago. Now that Consort Yun is here, I haven't gone to serve the emperor again."

Consort Shen suddenly asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what is His Majesty like when he serves you in bed?"

She was acting really strange today, and the questions she asked caught Consort Ning off guard.

"What do you ask for this?"

Consort Shen was somewhat deflated. "I just feel that His Majesty is usually so cold. How could someone like that have any emotions or desires? I really can't imagine it."

She couldn't imagine it, and neither could Consort Ning, since she had never served the emperor in bed. She could only give a vague answer: "Men are one way in bed, and another way off the bed."

Seeing that Consort Shen was still absent-minded, she said helplessly, "I can only say that you came at the wrong time. Before Consort Yun returned, His Majesty was not as cold as he is now."

Consort Yun, it's Consort Yun again.
"Your Highness Consort Ning, I am very curious about something. Has none of you ever wondered what happened to the Imperial Consort during the three years she disappeared?"

"I told you, don't say such things in front of me!"

Consort Shen immediately stood up: "But this matter is very important. Something must have happened. It might become evidence to bring down Consort Yun."

Consort Ning was almost amused by her, "Since you're so persistent, then go ahead and investigate. If you can actually find anything, then you'll be the one who's capable."

The reason she said this was because Consort Ning had tried to investigate before, but Song Yi was a very strange person. He erased all traces overnight, as if he had vanished into thin air.

When she returned, Consort Ning sent people around her to try to investigate, but—they had no clue where to start.

They couldn't even catch a glimpse of the trail.

Consort Shen gritted her teeth secretly: "Your Majesty, who exactly is the Imperial Concubine? She has no parents, no relatives? How did she come to be by His Majesty's side?"

Consort Ning remained silent.

She felt a surge of unease.

No one knows Song Yi's background.

"Consort Shen, I advise you, you are just a newcomer to the palace, there are some things you shouldn't be curious about."

Consort Ning said those words on purpose to provoke her into investigating the truth.

After all, she didn't like this Consort Shen either. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's order, she wouldn't have bothered to see her at all.

As expected, Consort Shen was stunned for a long time after hearing Consort Ning's words before she belatedly realized that Consort Yun was a person with many, many mysteries.

There are some things she shouldn't be curious about, but if she investigates carefully, who knows what might happen if she uncovers something extraordinary?
One day later.

When Song Yi returned from the Imperial Hospital, she was extremely excited, her eyes sparkling. Ignoring the mess of herbs on her clothes, she ran and jumped into Jiang Lanye's arms as soon as she entered the Golden Palace.

Jiang Lanye was reading a memorial when he saw her arrive. With practiced ease, he made room for her in his arms, gently hooking her leg and pulling her close before continuing to read the memorial.

Song Yi glared at him: "I'm already in your arms, which is more attractive, the memorial or me?"

Those were familiar words again.

Jiang Lanye raised his hand and pressed down on her fidgeting head: "Don't move, I'll finish writing this memorial."

Song Yi immediately lowered her head dejectedly, resting her hands on the edge of the table and her chin on the back of her hands, watching him write steadily. After a while, Jiang Lanye put down his pen, now able to hug Song Yi with both arms, and pulled her closer to him: "What's making you so happy?"

"Guess what? Today, the imperial physician and I were looking through a very thick medical book, which has three volumes. Unexpectedly, in the lower volume, it vaguely mentioned a kind of Gu. Judging from the description in the book, it is most likely the same Gu that is in your body!"

"Since the book records the solution, we can find a way to solve it. All the imperial physicians are now crowding around to study the book. I can't be of much help, so I came back first."

Jiang Lanye's eyes flickered slightly as he raised his hand to remove the Chinese medicinal herbs that had gotten on her clothes.

"Your reaction is so calm?"

"Is there?"

"Yes, I knew you wouldn't care about these things!"

She tried to get off Jiang Lanye's lap, but he pulled her back into his arms: "Then... what kind of reaction do you want to see?"

"Of course I'm happy and joyful."

Jiang Lanye hugged her tightly: "If you're happy, I'm happy."

Song Yi noticed that Jiang Lanye had become increasingly busy these past few days. He had put aside many things while recuperating, but now that the court was starting to function normally again, it wouldn't be long before he would need to attend the morning court every day again.

Thinking of this, Song Yi really couldn't be happy.

She had seen Jiang Lanye exhausted far too many times. Before his health deteriorated, it was common for him to stay up late reviewing memorials by lamplight until midnight, and then get up before dawn the next day to attend the morning court session.

When the person in his arms became still, Jiang Lanye thought he was holding her too tightly and was uncomfortable, so he let go of her and carefully examined her face.

"what happened?"

"Jiang Lanye——"

She dragged out her words, her voice muffled.

"Yes, Jiang Lanye is here."

"Can you not be so busy? Can we just forget about it? It's okay."

Sometimes she wanted to be selfish and have Jiang Lanye stay with her forever, but he was the emperor, and Song Yi couldn't really become some kind of evil concubine.

Jiang Lanye thought he had been too busy these past two days and had neglected her. He immediately swept aside the memorials, picked up Song Yi, and put her on the table. He then sat on the dragon throne, and the two of them looked at each other face to face.

Song Yi was unusually taller than Jiang Lanye. She looked down at Jiang Lanye, her feet dangling in the air, occasionally kicking his calves and knees.

"Have I neglected you? Sorry, next time you throw yourself into my arms, I can put the memorials aside first."

His expression was serious, and his tone was exceptionally sincere.

Song Yi chuckled: "No, I just wanted to make sure you weren't so tired."

Jiang Lanye patiently discussed with her, "Then tell me, how many hours a day do you want me to read the memorials, how long should I rest after each reading session, and how long should each rest session be?"

Song Yi pouted: "I don't want to manage you like that, it makes me seem like I'm being long-winded."

A smile flickered in Jiang Lanye's eyes. He stood up, placed his hands on either side of Song Yi's body, and leaned down slightly, pressing her between the table and his chest.

(End of this chapter)